ATLANTA THERAPIST PLEADS GUILTY TO BILKING CLIENTS OUT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

Defendant Manipulated Sympathy for Personal Gain

Atlanta- A professional counselor accused of manipulating clients out of hundreds of thousands of dollars has pleaded guilty as indicted to eleven counts of theft by taking. Following plea proceedings on Monday, Colleen Higgins was sentenced to four years in prison and 36-years probation.

As part of her money scheme, Higgins played on the sympathy of her clients by asking them for money to deal with “family issues”. During the course of 2007 through 2009, Higgins “borrowed” a total of $277, 500 from at least eight clients promising to repay them. Victims made individual payments in amounts ranging from $2,500 to $90,000. Higgins repaid only $6,000 to one victim. At least one victim was told if he did not give money he would no longer receive treatment. Higgins eventually fled the State-briefly surfacing at a convent in California and then once again in Iowa where she was arrested in 2010 while completing a job application at a local Motel. Her counseling license has been revoked.

As part of the special conditions of her plea agreement, Higgins may not have contact with any of her victims. She must also submit periodic financial affidavits and adhere to personal spending restrictions.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Senior District Attorney Brad Malkin, head of the DA’s White Collar Crime Unit with assistance from DA Investigator Natalie Brunner. Detective J.T. Owens of the Atlanta Police Department led the initial investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov